'Weeds' star set to join Broadway's 'Spring Awakening'

From the drug dealing of Weeds to the sexual anxiety of Spring Awakening.

Hunter Parrish, who portrays Mary-Louise Parker's oldest son on the popular Showtime TV series, joins the cast of Broadway's Tony-winning Spring Awakening on Aug. 18.

Parrish will take over the role of Melchior, the thoughtful student heartthrob, from Kyle Riabko, who will headline the national touring company of the show. Riabko leaves the Broadway cast on Aug. 2.

The show, based on Frank Wedekind's classic drama, is set among the hormonally active yet sexually inexperienced youth of late 19-century Germany. It has music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater.

Besides Weeds, Parrish has appeared in such movies as 17 Again, Freedom Writers and RV. He will be making his Broadway debut in Spring Awakening.

Unless otherwise noted, tickets are available at the theaters' box offices for the shows listed. Details about how to obtain tickets appear at the end.

A Catered Affair. Faith Prince, Tom Wopat and Harvey Fierstein star in a new musical by Fierstein and John Bucchino about the complications involved for the parents of the bride in planning their daughter's wedding. Walter Kerr. Telecharge. Closes July 27.

August: Osage County. Tracy Letts' drama, a hit for Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company, concerns a venomous mother and her dealings with three daughters. Winner of the 2008 Tony Award for best play. Music Box. Telecharge.

Avenue Q. Love blossoms among the 20-something set — a group that includes puppets — in this very funny, adult musical comedy. Golden. Telecharge.

Boeing-Boeing. Mark Rylance, Christine Baranski and Bradley Whitford star in the London hit about a man juggling affairs with several flight attendants. Longacre. Telecharge.

Grease. A revival of the venerable musical celebrating 1950s high school and featuring stars chosen during the recent NBC television reality series. Brooks Atkinson. Ticketmaster.

Gypsy. Patti LuPone stars as the mother of stripper Gypsy Rose Lee in a revival of one of the greatest of all Broadway musicals. St. James. Telecharge.

Hairspray. The cult John Waters movie set in 1960s Baltimore has been turned into a hilarious, tuneful musical. Neil Simon. Ticketmaster.

In the Heights. The lively off-Broadway musical about Latino residents in an area of upper Manhattan called Washington Heights moves to Broadway. Winner of the 2008 Tony Award for best musical. Richard Rodgers. Ticketmaster.

Jersey Boys. The musical story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Winner of four 2006 Tonys including best musical. August Wilson. Telecharge. Difficult.

Legally Blonde. Laura Bell Bundy stars in this musical version of the Reese Witherspoon movie about a determined young woman who goes to Harvard Law School. Palace. Ticketmaster.

Mamma Mia! The London musical sensation featuring the pop songs of ABBA makes it to Broadway. Die-hard ABBA fans will like it best. Winter Garden. Telecharge.

Mary Poppins. The world's most famous nanny comes to the stage after her great success as a P.L. Travers book and a Disney movie. New Amsterdam. Ticketmaster, a special Disney hot line, 212-307-4747.

Monty Python's Spamalot. A musical inspired by that demented film comedy, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Shubert. Telecharge.

November. David Mamet's new comedy about a president facing a tough re-election campaign. Nathan Lane stars as the chief executive and the cast also includes Laurie Metcalf and Dylan Baker. Ethel Barrymore. Telecharge. Closes July 13.

Passing Strange. A musical created by the singer-songwriter known as Stew. A hit off-Broadway last season, the show follows a young man's journey from Los Angeles to Europe in search of truth and meaning. Belasco. Telecharge.

South Pacific. Kelli O'Hara is nurse Nellie Forbush and Paulo Szot is French plantation owner Emile de Becque in a revival of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical based on one of the short stories in James A. Michener's Tales of the South Pacific. Vivian Beaumont. Telecharge. Difficult.

The 39 Steps. A stage adaptation by Patrick Barlow of Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 movie thriller about a man on the run. Four actors including Charles Edwards (who starred in the hit London production) portray more than 150 roles. Cort. Telecharge.

The Country Girl. Morgan Freeman, Frances McDormand and Peter Gallagher star in a revival of Clifford Odets' play about a washed-up actor trying for a comeback. Mike Nichols directs. Bernard B. Jacobs. Telecharge. Closes July 20.

The Lion King. Director Julie Taymor is a modern-day Merlin, creating a stage version of the Disney animated hit that makes you truly believe in the magic of theater. Minskoff. Ticketmaster, a special Disney hot line, 212-307-4747. Difficult on weekends.

The Little Mermaid. Disney's stage version of its popular animated film about a sea maiden who longs to live on land. Lunt-Fontanne. Ticketmaster, a special Disney hot line, 212-307-4747.

The Phantom of the Opera. The one with the chandelier. The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical about a deformed composer who haunts the Paris Opera House is the prime, Grade A example of big Brit musical excess. But all the lavishness does have a purpose in Harold Prince's intelligent production, now the longest-running show in Broadway history. Majestic. Telecharge.

title of show. Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell's little musical about writing a musical. An off-Broadway hit, the story has been expanded to include the show's move to Broadway. Now in previews. Opens July 17. Lyceum. Telecharge.

Wicked. An ambitious, wildly popular musical about the witches in The Wizard of Oz as young women. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire. Gershwin. Ticketmaster. Difficult.